The casualty count from the nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic has risen to 226, with authorities confirming that all victims’ bodies have been returned to their families.
The tragedy resulted in the loss of 221 lives within the Jet Set club early on Tuesday, with an additional four individuals succumbing to injuries in the hospital, as reported by Health Minister Victor Atallah.
A Costa Rican citizen passed away yesterday, as per the health ministry’s announcement, increasing the toll to 226. However, Mr. Atallah cautioned that some severely burned victims are still fighting for their lives in medical facilities.
This catastrophic event at the club, the most devastating incident in the Caribbean nation in decades, occurred while hundreds gathered to enjoy a performance by merengue singer Rubby Perez.
The toll from the roof collapse exceeds the 136 fatalities from a 2005 prison fire in Higuey.
Earlier statements from the president’s office indicated that 189 individuals were rescued alive from the nightclub’s wreckage, which is now reduced to heaps of twisted metal and crumbled bricks.
Aerial photos of the scene depicted an area resembling the aftermath of an earthquake.
Evening Vigil
On Friday night, several dozen people gathered for an impromptu vigil near the nightclub.
“A painted flower for each angel up above,” read a message on a makeshift altar.
“May their rest be eternal… This great injustice must be explained.”
Arlenne Matos, 47, who resides near the club, recalled hearing a noise resembling “an explosion” or “an earthquake,” followed by distressing cries.
“People were yelling ‘Let’s get out of here! I’m alive! Help me!'” she recounted.
“It’s the most tragic event I could have ever imagined in my lifetime.”
A continuous flow of vehicles paused near the vigil, with some occupants stepping out in silent reflection while others brought candles, flowers, messages, or black and white balloons.
‘Several’ Americans
The scale of the tragedy exceeded the available response capacity.
Health Minister Atallah stated that “no pathology institute has the resources to manage so many bodies so swiftly.”
Nonetheless, authorities assured that all victims’ remains would be returned to their relatives by 2 AM on Saturday.
However, some families reported discrepancies.
“They gave us a body that wasn’t hers,” exclaimed a devastated Julio Alberto Acosta, who lost his stepdaughter in the disaster.
“They provided us with a bag, and we insisted on opening it to verify if it was her, but it wasn’t… We want them to deliver the correct one so her mother can see her and proceed with the burial.”
The preliminary victim list includes individuals from Haiti, Italy, two French nationals, and according to the US State Department, “several” Americans.
Among the deceased were two retired Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor.
In response to the situation, twelve additional forensic pathologists were brought in to assist with the identification process, as reported by the health ministry.
The government extended the initial three-day national mourning period for an additional three days and announced the formation of a special commission of national and international experts to investigate the cause of the catastrophe.
On Friday, President Abinader vowed to uncover “what happened, why it happened, and how it transpired.”
